Chapter Twenty-One
Pain radiated through Chen's shoulder and torso as he hit the metal floor. His first and only concern was to shield Shanti and Hsing from the feeling. He didn't want Shanti to be frightened, and he didn't want Hsing to feel any more burden or stress than what he was already under. From his place on the ground, Chen looked up into the distorted face that he'd known since he was a youngling.
Niao and Nse's father, Ngai, towered over him. The male had survived the debris field, but his body had not come out unscathed. An ugly gash tore across Ngai’s chest. There was a limp to his walk. He wasn't healing for some reason. He looked as though he'd been sick for many cycles.
"Ngai, you are wounded. Let me heal you." Chen came to his knees.
"You will try to kill me."
Chen s
